More than 50 Zionists attack on Red Crescent teams since start of 3rd Intifada

A report by the RCS said 37 emergency medical technicians were wounded and around 20 ambulances were damaged by the Israeli occupation soldiers since early October, when the latest round of attacks by the Israeli occupation army against Palestinians reached an uptick.

There are 24 cases in which RCS’ ambulances were hindered and prevented from reaching wounded Palestinians near seam zones.

The majority of attacks took place in occupied al-Quds (‘Jerusalem’).

According to the RCS these violations aim at hindering the work of its teams and preventing them from carrying out their humanitarian duty, including reaching injured persons, providing them with First Aid and ensuring their transfer to hospitals. This has increased the suffering of injured persons and their families.

The attacks also constitute a grave breach of IHL provisions which stipulate that National Societies, such as the Red Crescent, must be allowed to provide humanitarian services to those in need. Moreover, the Israeli occupation army has infringed the four Geneva Conventions by arresting Palestinians from inside PRCS’ ambulances in a crying violation of the sanctity of ambulances and of the Society’s emblem, as well as of the right of the wounded to access medical care.

The Fourth Geneva Convention in particular stipulates that the occupying power should assure access to medical services and medical personnel. These violations have forced the wounded to seek alternative means of traveling to hospitals, exacerbating their wounds and endangering their lives.

RCS called on the international community represented by political, humanitarian and relief organizations, to take practical measures to compel the occupying power to cease all attacks and violations against the wounded civilians along with RCS’ ambulances and teams.    

/129